{"id":287,"date":"2017-09-20T11:41:34","date_gmt":"2017-09-20T10:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.socialdemocrats.ie\/priorities-for-new-dail-term-focus-on-housing-health-sustainable-growth-and-anti-corruption\/"},"modified":"2017-09-20T11:41:34","modified_gmt":"2017-09-20T10:41:34","slug":"priorities-for-new-dail-term-focus-on-housing-health-sustainable-growth-and-anti-corruption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.socialdemocrats.ie\/ga\/priorities-for-new-dail-term-focus-on-housing-health-sustainable-growth-and-anti-corruption\/","title":{"rendered":"Priorities for new D\u00e1il term focus on housing, health, sustainable growth and anti-corruption"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Social Democrats today set out the party\u2019s priorities for the new D\u00e1il term, with a focus on effective measures to address people\u2019s housing and health needs, ensure sustainable economic growth, and tackle corruption.<\/p>\n

Speaking ahead of the resumption of the D\u00e1il after the summer break, the party\u2019s joint leaders said tackling the ongoing crises in health and housing requires solutions based on brave and honest decision-making and a willingness to tackle vested interests.<\/p>\n

Deputy Catherine Murphy TD said:<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we face into a new D\u00e1il session, Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael are engaged in Punch and Judy-style theatrics, beating each other up about the budget. Meanwhile, back in the real world, the housing crisis is deepening with more and more people falling into homelessness or struggling to keep roofs over their heads.”<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the predictable annual trolley crisis looming, senior doctors are already warning that our acute hospitals are beginning to fail. What we need for this crucial D\u00e1il term is a real focus on tackling these very fundamental issues \u2013 and that requires taking bold decisions and tackling vested interests,\u201d added Deputy R\u00f3is\u00edn Shortall TD<\/p>\n

Turning to the area of anti-corruption, Deputy Shortall said the party would continue to urge the government to adopt its proposals for the establishment of a robust and fully resourced Independent Anti-Corruption Agency to tackle white-collar crime and corruption in the corporate world and political spheres.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite all the talk about how this government will tackle corruption, there was no sign of any urgency on that front in the government\u2019s autumn legislative programme published yesterday. Instead, what we got was a re-heat of a corruption bill originally published five years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will never properly get to grips with the endemic nature of corruption unless we start to see actual consequences for corrupt behaviour and the rigorous prevention, detection and prosecution of corruption and white-collar crime,\u201d said Deputy Shortall.<\/p>\n

The Social Democrats\u2019 housing priorities for the autumn term include measures to curb land hoarding, free up vacant sites and ensure efficient and prompt delivery of affordable housing.<\/p>\n

Deputy Murphy said:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time the government tackled speculators instead of tolerating them because there is evidence of land hoarding on a very large scale and this is having a hugely negative impact on so many people\u2019s lives. \u00a0We are advocating a \u2018use it or lose it\u2019 policy to stop speculators from holding onto land that could be used to help stem the current housing crisis. We simply can\u2019t continue to tolerate a situation where speculators are dictating housing policy in this country.<\/p>\n

\u201cGovernment often hides behind the constitutional provision which they claim\u00a0gives precedent to private property rights over the public good. This should either be challenged in the courts or changed in the Constitution by way of a referendum.\u201d<\/p>\n

The housing priorities include:<\/p>\n